April Goals

   Today starts a new month.  But it's going to be just as busy as last!!  So excited to finish all my goals and get started with a new month.  

Aprils Goals:

1- It's time to start Project Quilt Monthly Challenges. 

2- I am Pattern testing for Bea Lee and need a quilt done by months end. 

3- Pantone Quilt challenge.  Hope to be able to enter 2. 

4- Start on Anna and Sheila's quilts

5- Pat Sloan's String Bean Quilt

6- 1 Ahhhh for the Deco collection 

Wofford T-shirt Quilt

   
     One of the biggest joys is always being asked by others to make something.  Over the last 2 years I have made several t-shirt quilts and memory quilts.  Time though is the only thing that stops me from making as many as others would like.  But I was in one of those accept another project moods last month and I took on another shirt quilt!!

     After a really busy month I have picked this project up and laid it down several times.  But I finally finished it today!!!   T-shirt quilts take a lot of time and patience to get right.  There are no 2 the same.  There is a lot of measuring and planning that goes into each one.  I truly have to be in the right mood to work on one.  I guess this goes for any quilt and me.  I do my best work when i have an idea and motivation for the project. 

     After much cutting and planning this became a scrappy T-shirt Quilt. I decided to use 2 different fabrics in the quilt to first finish the blocks into rows. I wanted the fabric to complement the colors in the quilt.  Be able to be something that would be in style for generations.  I decided on this damask fabric I had.  I used the black and purple in the rows.  Then I added 2 1/2 inches of gray between each row and to put a first border on the quilt. 

     After sashing them out I decided that the quilt was just not big enough.  I added 4 inches of black as the second sashing.  This made it perfect.

     For the backing I sewed 2 pieces of the cordinating fabric together.  One black and 1 gray. 

     I free motion quilted it together.   I started by meandering and adding hearts, but after about 30 minutes in I remembered how hard FMQ was on the machine and my threads kept popping.  The only thing I can ever figure out with this is that the knit fusible backing does not run the thread or needle right and encourages breakage and dulls the needle quickly.   So I changed my needle and went back to just meandering.  With only a few more thread popps we finished. 

     For the binding I used the Purple.  Again I like chunky binding and just this little amount of suttle purple made the colors in the blocks pop.  The purpose of the complementary colors in the fabric  is not for them to stand out, but to allow the blocks to stand out. I feel these three fabrics did just that! 

     This is a birthday quilt present for  a well deserving young lady.  Not to mention her mom was sooooo proud that she was last years Homecoming Queen.  I was actually excited after starting this quilt.  My father in law went to Wofford many years ago and loved his school.  I knew he would also love this quilt!  The little things I can find in common about the person I am making for and I gives me more enthusiasm and creativity in making the quilt!!

    

Not The Freezer Section Chicken Nuggets

     We have all had those Frozen nuggets.  Some of us have had the ones that claim to be "chicken breast pieces", but we know their not!  I hate them, but love real chicken breast nuggets! 

    I went into Publix again and tried one of their Apron meals!!  I loved the nuggets, so I grabbed a card!  I went to the aisle and of course couldn't find the cornbread Jalapeño crackers it called for.  Yep, my luck, out of stock.  So I decided to make my own. 

     So here is my adapted recipe.

-1 pack boneless skinless chicken breasts. I used the frozen ones.

-1 container Italian bread crumbs.  I used the store brand. 

-1 container Panko seasoned bread crumbs.

-Garlic Powder seasoning

-Old Bay Seasoning

-Ground Red Pepper Seasoning

-Buttermilk

-Cooking Oil Spray

     The amount of each item you will need relies on the amount of chicken you are cooking. 

1- Cut chicken into 1 1/2 inch chicken cubes.  

2- Place in bowl and cover with Buttermilk.  Mix in 1 teaspoon red pepper.  Leave in fridge overnight or for a minimum of 3 hours. 

3- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cookie sheet with oil. 

4- Combine 2 cups bread crumbs, 2 cups Panko crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper(less if you don't desire spice). 

5- A few pieces at a time, drain chicken, then place into bread crumbs. Use either fork or hands and press crumbs into chicken.  You will need to add more of the breadcrumb mixture as you go along, dependent on the amount of chicken being cooked. 

6- Place chicken on greased pan, slightly separated. 

7- Cook for 12-14 minutes until tender. 

   

I Made It to Number 50!!

    As most of you know, I love Ahhhh's!! And if you don't know what they are, hop over to Hillbilly Quilt Shop and check them out!  Their real name is Artistic, Hexitic, Hectic, Hillbilly Hexagons.  

   As some of you have realized I have made way more then 50 by now, but I have finally finished every one between #1 and #50 in my favorite fabric "Deco" by Jason Yenter.  

     This has been truly a hard adventure because some of these have very little pieces and the sides only equal 3 inches.  This one has 108 diamonds in it.  

  #50- Illusions has taken me forever,  not because it is hard,  but because I am always scared I will loose pieces or I never cut the right amount of the color needed.  But here it is finally done!!! 

Scrappy Sunday!!!

    

     Today I am cutting up lots of teal, Aqua, cream and red scraps.  I cut these into 2.5 inch strips that I am using for my Pat Sloan String Bean Challenge!!!   More to come, hopefully in a week or so.

March Finishes

     Here another month has all to quickly come to an end.  It seems like they keep flying by.    I keep track of my finishes each month and get motivated by the blog competition "A Year of Lovely Finishes"

     As for this months goals,  I am proud to say I have realistically finished!!!  Down to the wire with the Ahhhh's, but we are done!  

     Here is the center star for my Pantone Challenge.  I think I am over halfway done with the outside pieces!!

Here is Project Quilt Entry #5

And #6

My sewing machine mat

And my Kinberley Einmo Center block

And lastly,  my Ahhhh's!!  #50

And #53

Shrimp Scampi with Spinach and Roasted Peppers

     The other night as I was walking threw  Publix I of course was drawn to the smell of their sample station.   They were making a shrimp dish.  After I tried it, I knew I had to make it!!   But if you know me, I like to make it better and always add more veggies!!

     So here is my interpretation of their Shrimp Scampi with Spinach and roasted  peppers.  

-1 bag frozen shrimp, deveined, peeled and tail removed 

-1 large box Thin Spaghetti noodles(or really, whatever you have)

-1 teaspoon red pepper powder

-1/2 teaspoon powdered garlic

-1 cup sweet roasted red peppers. 

-1 green bell pepper

-1 large onion

-6 tablespoons butter

-5 ounce package of spinach

-2 tablespoons olive oil

-1 tablespoons chicken broth powder

-1/2 cup water

-freshly grated Parmesan 

1- Cook noodles in method of choice.  When finished, drain well.

2- Sauté onions and bell peppers in olive oil.

3- When peppers are soft, add shrimp, spinach, roasted peppers, water, garlic, pepper, and chicken broth. Cook until shrimp begins to turn pink. 

4- Mix in butter cut into small pieces.

5- Mix in noodles, tossing lightly.

6- Plate and top with Parmesan. 

     I know this is not my regular blog post, but it was easy to make and disappeared quickly at my house.  Next time I am adding more spinach.  It seems like a lot at first, but shrinks down quickly.